“ The truth is the truth. The answers to our state budget problem may not be what you want. But the truth is what we need. ”
Although District 6A State Representative David Dill (D-Crane Lake) did not face a DFL challenger in the August primary election, he made several trips up the North Shore to visit with constituents. He stopped by a few days after the primary, visiting with the Cook County News-Herald
on Thursday, August 5.
In light of the news coverage of his health problems earlier this year, one of the first questions was of course, how are you feeling? Surprisingly, despite facing a kidney transplant within the next few weeks, Dill said he is feeling quite well. He said he is incredibly grateful for the support of friends, family and constituents as he faces the challenge of kidney disease. He said eight people came forward to be tested as possible donors; four were matches; and two were excellent matches. The two best matches were going through more extensive testing at the time of the interview. Dill said he anticipates surgery in mid-September.
The recovery time for the donor will be three to five days off work. Dill said if all goes as planned, he will spend six to 10 days at the Hennepin Regional Medical Center and will then need to stay close for monitoring for a month. He will live in Minneapolis during that time and will be able to work at his officeat the Capitol. As the right level of medication is found, Dill will require testing less frequently and will be able to return to Crane Lake and to his extremely busy schedule as a snowmobile trail administrator and co-owner of a Canadian fishing resort.
Dill expects to be back to full speed when the legislature convenes in January 2011. He said it will be an extremely difficult session as the state attempts to deal with a $6 billion-plus deficit.
Dill said under Pawlenty-Sviggum leadership, there has been “trickery” regarding the state budget. He said for example, inflation was factored on the revenue side of the equation, but not the expense side. He said accounting shifts or gimmicks have been used, such as the delayed payments to school districts. “This hurt school districts like 166 in Cook County, but the problem is starting to manifest itself across the state,” said Dill. “Future cuts are going to be tough, with education and health care making up 80% of the state budget.”
“Thetruth is the truth,” said Dill. “The answers to our state budget problem may not be what you want. But the truth is what we need.”
Dill is sensitive to the need for truth, as he was the target of a misinformation campaign by Jeff Brown of the Minnesotans for Responsible Recreation (MRR) in 2004. MRR claimed that Dill was improperly benefitting from gas taxes allocated to the Crane Lake area snowmobile club because he worked for the club as trail administrator. In response to MRR’s allegations, the Minnesota State Auditor investigated and cleared Dill of any impropriety. Despite that official report, MRR continues to spread its allegations. Dill reiterated that his legislative position is several steps removed from his job as trail administrator, which is his full-time job. “The legislature is not intended to be anyone’s career,” said Dill. “It should be a part-time job. We are supposed to be citizen representatives. We are expected to have real jobs away from the Capitol.”
Asked about the Minnesota gubernatorial race, Dill said he is a strong supporter of former Senator Mark Dayton, stating, “Mark’s heart is in the right place. He’s not motivated by personal gain. Not all things have gone perfectly in his life, but he’s had a significant history of public service. I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Does he feel a kinship with Dayton because they have both faced an endorsed candidate on a primary ballot? Dill declined comment on his 2004 win over DFL-endorsed candidate Bill Hansen of Tofte, instead noting that ousted Margaret Anderson-Kelliher had had some good ideas for the state. Dill said he agreed with Anderson-Kelliher’s call for a “balanced approach.”
“This may be the year that local government aid disappears altogether, so we have to find new efficiencies. But we also have to find a way to increase revenue, to create resurgence in economic development. Imagine wringing out a dish towel—there is only so much you can squeeze out.”
Dill promised to keep fighting for Cook County at the legislature. He said it is sometimes difficult to make metro area legislators understand the pressures on the units of government on the North Shore—the abundance of public land ownership and large number of seasonal property owners. He said that Cook County technically has one of the lowest property tax rates in the state with a .76% rate. He said the norm is 1% or higher, so the county may be called on to raise its property tax rate.
Dill said he will continue to work to see that major infrastructure, like the hospital, which is seeking an increased levy, can survive. He said it is very important for the North Shore to keep its connection to the taconite taxing district. However, he said funds from the Iron Range Resource (IRR) may not be as available in the immediate future. He said the Cook County Local Energy Project (CCLEP) is an example. “The CCLEP project that came to the IRR is very worthy. But there is a finite amount of money, so I think it will not be funded this year,” said Dill. “Hopefully they will be able to find other funding.”
Asked what he would like to say to District 6A constituents, Dill said he was glad to see a fairly high turnout at the polls for the primary. “I’m glad to see that people are engaged. I know people are engaged because I hear from them,” said Dill with a laugh, listing the names of several community leaders he had talked to this week.
“I wish people wouldn’t wait so long to get a hold of me for help negotiating the water. It’s better to deal with an issue before you’re falling off the dock into the water,” said Dill. “If you have a problem, call me and see what I can do.”
Dill will face Republican candidate Jim Tuomala of Ely in the November general election.
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